As COVID19 continues to make headlines, one of the many challenges that face young families is the need to strengthen their immunity. To help you, here are five tips for boosting your child’s immunity (and yours) which has been adapted from our health & safety policy and handbook for parents who are starting childcare with us.
1. Clean hands and surroundings
Children love to play and explore and that sometimes means getting their hands and toys dirty. That’s why it’s important for their surroundings and toys to be cleaned, and disinfected if required. Young children need to wash their hands after going to the toilet and before eating, properly and long enough for at least 20 seconds. Here’s a video about why it takes 20 seconds of hand washing to kill the coronavirus:
2. Nutrition
Breastfeeding has many benefits one of which, it increases your baby’s resistance to infection and diseases. By 12 months, your toddler should be eating a wide range of family food based on a well-balanced, nutritious diet that helps support your child’s stage growth and developmental needs. To boost your child’s immunity system, try encouraging them to eat more vegetables and fruits which are rich in vitamins and minerals, not forgetting adequate fluids to stay hydrated.
Here are some nutritious foods that you can offer to your toddler, and even your whole family!
Breakfast: Cereal, rice or porridge with fresh fruits, finger food (eg. fruit and toast), milk for breakfast.
Morning or afternoon tea: Yoghurt which has probotics can be served with chopped fruit .
Lunch: If you’re having sandwiches with avocado, cheese spread, tuna, salmon or chicken, fillings, complement them with vegetable sticks and a fruit salad. For younger children, try a vegetable omelette, macaroni served with cauliflower and cheese sauce, stewed fruit with yoghurt or custard. For older children, mini vegetarian pizzas, wholemeal pita and brown rice crackers are good alternatives to bread.
Dinner: Add vegetables like carrots and spinach into bolognese sauce with pasta. Anti-oxidant rich garlic and onion can be blended into sauces for meat patties, or stirred-fry with tofu, vegetables and meat with rice, followed with fruits.
3. Sleep
Adequate sleep also important for growth and development of little ones. Immune systems can be compromised when your child is not getting enough sleep. If you have a young baby, try to develop a settling technique – look out for signs of tiredness and create an environment that is comfortable and signals bedtime (dim lights and soft music).
Infants and children should have sufficient sleep and rest times throughout the day so that they are fuelled for learning and playing. Keep any sleep and rest time routines regular and predictable to help your child get a good night’s sleep. This could include reading your child a story and tucking them in with their favourite blanket or toy.
If you are starting childcare, ensure the educators work with you to accommodate your child’s individual rest time and routines so that your child feels at home in the new surroundings.
4. Exercise
Regular exercise is key to good health and fitness, as well as a good night’s sleep for your child and the whole family!
Going to the park to play a sport or staying indoors for some fun dancing will help your child to move, plus learn a new skill. Regular exercise programs can help a child to:
- develop agility, balance, body and hand-eye coordination
- develop their gross motor, fine motor and loco motor skills
- build and strengthen muscle groups and stamina
If going outdoors, ensure the play area is safe and shaded, and your child has a hat and sunscreen.
5. Vaccination
While there is no immunisation from coronavirus yet, keeping immunisation up-to-date maximises your child’s immunity levels and protects your child from any exposure to other infectious diseases. At Oz Education, it is critical that all children are immunised before they start childcare at our centres as it prevents the spread of infectious diseases like measles.
If you’re starting childcare, please also that ensure you read our health & safety policy and how we are applying new guidelines in addition to the ones recommended by the Health Department including latest guidelines for Coronavirus (COVID-19) specifically for child care centres and schools.
Related posts:
Talking to your child about coronavirus
Health & Safety Update – Going the Extra Mile
For more information, please call us on 1300 644 125 or visit our website at www.ozeducation.com.au.
